Good afternoon, everyone.
Welcome to the Subcommittee on International Human Rights. We are continuing today with our second session on our study regarding the human rights situation in South Sudan. We have two witnesses to hear from today. One is on the phone, and we're trying to get that lined up. The other is Mr. Glen Pearson.
Mr. Pearson served as the federal member of Parliament for London North Centre between 2006 and 2011. From 2009 to 2011, Mr. Pearson was a member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. He also served as the Liberal critic for international co-operation.
Mr. Pearson is currently the executive director of Canadian Aid for South Sudan. CASS is a human rights and development organization that has worked in the Aweil East region of South Sudan since 1998. CASS initially focused on fighting slavery and documenting conflict and its consequences, including leading media groups such as CBC television and other documentary crews into conflict zones. CASS has since developed projects to build schools, establish a YWCA, provide clean water, and develop micro-enterprises.
Mr. Pearson was in attendance at peace talks in 2005 between north and south Sudan and was an observer in the 2011 referendum that led to the creation of the independent Republic of South Sudan. Mr. Pearson and his wife have adopted three children from Darfur.
We thank you very much for being here with us today to testify.
I think everybody, all fellow committee members, are aware of the situation and saw articles over the weekend that the UN has made a formal declaration of famine in South Sudan. It's clear that this study being done in our committee is timely, necessary, and will be of the utmost importance as we bring these findings and recommendations to the attention of the government.
With that, Mr. Pearson, I hand the floor over to you.